Two Skiers Killed at Lake Tahoe's Heavenly Resort

Incidents mark the fifth ski-related death in the region this month amid a deadly period for resorts.

Published on Feb. 23, 2026

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Two skiers were killed in separate incidents at Heavenly Mountain Resort in Lake Tahoe on Friday. The victims, a 57-year-old man from Elk Grove, California and a 33-year-old man from West Bloomfield, Michigan, were both pronounced dead at the scene after ski patrol attempted life-saving measures. The deaths come amid a particularly deadly month for the region, with at least five ski-related fatalities reported in the Lake Tahoe area so far in February.

Why it matters

The concentration of ski-related deaths in the Lake Tahoe region this month has raised significant safety concerns among skiers and resort officials. The incidents follow a particularly tragic week that included the loss of nine skiers in a deadly avalanche near Castle Peak, now considered the deadliest such event in California's recorded history.

The details

The two incidents at Heavenly occurred at the Boulder Lodge on the Nevada side of the mountain. One fatality involved a 57-year-old man who suffered a medical emergency on the Tamarack Trail, while the other was a 33-year-old man who died in a skiing incident on the Orion Trail. The causes of death for both men remain under investigation.

  • The Douglas County Sheriff's Office responded to the scene around 11:55 a.m. Pacific Time on Friday, February 23, 2026.
  • Just days prior, on Tuesday, February 21, 2026, an avalanche near Castle Peak claimed the lives of at least eight skiers during a backcountry touring trip.
  • Earlier this week, a 21-year-old skier was found dead on an advanced trail at Northstar California Resort, marking the third death at that resort in February 2026.

The players

Nicholas Jamil Haddad

A 33-year-old man from West Bloomfield, Michigan who died in a skiing incident on the Orion Trail at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Brian Robert Fraud

A 57-year-old man from Elk Grove, California who suffered a medical emergency and died on the Tamarack Trail at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Heavenly Mountain Resort

The ski resort in Lake Tahoe where the two fatal incidents occurred on February 23, 2026.

Douglas County Sheriff's Office

The law enforcement agency that responded to the scene of the two fatal incidents at Heavenly Mountain Resort.

Castle Peak

The location near Lake Tahoe where an avalanche claimed the lives of at least eight skiers in a backcountry touring trip on February 21, 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Especially when you're hearing about it, not just today, but yesterday or the day before, one after the other, it does kind of kick you in the back of your mind like, is there more we can be doing to be safe?”

— Luke Longaker, Skier visiting from Half Moon Bay (newsdirectory3.com)

“I'm just more aware of things like that can happen. I was thinking about going up this Sunday. In fact, my son asked me if I wanted to go...”

— Gary Hohl, Former ski shop owner in Burlingame (newsdirectory3.com)

What’s next

The Douglas County Sheriff's Office investigation into the deaths at Heavenly remains active. As the ski season continues and fresh snow draws crowds to the Tahoe region, the focus on safety is likely to intensify.

The takeaway

The recent spate of ski-related fatalities in the Lake Tahoe area, including the deadliest avalanche in California's history, has understandably shaken the skiing community and raised urgent questions about resort safety protocols and the inherent risks of winter sports.